Duke charged past California to capture this year’s Division I women’s tennis team title. The Blue Devils defeated the Golden Bears, 4-0, on May 19 at Texas A&M to claim their first national championship in the sport.

The Blue Devils closed the season on an 18-match winning streak and end the year with 29 victories, the second most in the program’s history.

Two seniors, Melissa Mang and Jessi Robinson, won their singles matches within minutes of each other to secure the championship for Duke. Robinson, a co-captain for the Blue Devils playing the No. 6 position, easily took the first set of her match against California’s Marion Ravelojaona, 6-2. Although she fell behind 4-1 in the second frame, Robinson battled back to clinch the set, 6-4, and claim the match in straight sets. Moments later, Mang planted a forehand winner to end her match with a 6-1, 6-3, victory over Stephany Chang to complete the Blue Devils’ championship match sweep. 

Reka Zsilinszka, named as the tournament’s most outstanding player, posted five wins in tournament play, including a straight sets win over Mari Andersson at No. 3 singles in the championship match.

Zsilinszka and Ellah Nze helped Duke take an early lead with an 8-4 win over Bojana Bobusic and Chang at No. 3 doubles. The Blue Devils’ Mallory Cecil and Jessi Robinson followed with a decisive 8-5 victory against Marina Cossou and Claire Ilcinkas to take the doubles point.

“I’m so proud of them,” said Duke head coach Jaime Ashworth. “I couldn’t ask for more out of these girls. We grinded out most of the year with six players and you can’t ask for anything more than what they gave every single day at practice and matches. To come through like they did and beat a great Cal team, it’s just unbelievable.”

In the individual portion of the championships, Duke’s Mallory Cecil defeated Laura Vallverdu of Miami (Florida) in straight sets on Monday to earn the singles crown. Cecil became the second Blue Devil women’s tennis player in program history to earn the individual title after helping Duke take home the team trophy earlier in the week.

Cecil fought off multiple break points in the sixth game of an evenly played first set before finally breaking Vallverdu twice to take the first set, 7-5. In the second set, Cecil raced to a 5-1 lead then weathered a furious comeback attempt by Vallverdu, who closed to within a game at 5-4. The Duke freshman then regained her composure to close out the match, 6-4, and secure the title. Cecil finished the year with a 32-4 record.

California’s Mari Andersson and Jana Juricova captured the women’s doubles national title Monday after posting a 6-3, 6-4 win over Stanford’s Hilary Barte and Lindsay Burdette. The duo is the fifth in the program’s history to claim the doubles crown, and the first since 2003.

Ranked seventh nationally, Andersson and Juricova completed the season with a 25-3 record together.

Barte and Burdette, who were aiming to become the first Stanford duo to earn the doubles title since 2005, finished 27-8 overall.

Team results

Round of 16

Northwestern 4, Fresno St. 0; California 5, Georgia Tech 0; Baylor 4, Stanford 3; Notre Dame 4, Clemson 0; Miami (Fla.) 4, UCLA 2; Duke 4, Arkansas 2; South Carolina 4, Washington 0; Georgia 4, Florida 2.

Quarterfinals

California 4, Northwestern 2; Notre Dame 4, Baylor 3; Duke 4, Miami (Fla.) 1; Georgia 4, South Carolina 3.

Semifinals

California 4, Notre Dame 2; Duke 5, Georgia 2.

Championship

Duke 4, California 0

Doubles: No. 1 -- Amanda Granson-Melissa Mang, Duke, vs. Mari Andersson-Jana Juricova, California, 5-7 (did not finish); No. 2 -- Jessi Robinson-Mallory Cecil, Duke, def. Marina Cossou-Claire Ilcinkas, California, 8-5; No. 3 -- Reka Zsilinszka-Ellah Nze, Duke, def. Bojana Bobusic-Stephany Chang, California, 8-4.

Singles: No. 1 -- Mallory Cecil, Duke, vs. Jana Juricova, California, 6-4, 3-2 (did not finish); No. 2 -- Ellah Nze, Duke, vs. Marina Cossou, California, 3-6, 4-2 (did not finish); No. 3 -- Reka Zsilinszka, Duke, def. Mari Andersson, California, 6-1, 6-2; No. 4 -- Amanda Granson, Duke, vs. Bojana Bobusic, California, 6-0, 6-6 (did not finish); No. 5 -- Melissa Mang, Duke, def. Stephany Chang, California, 6-1, 6-3; No. 6 -- Jessi Robinson, Duke, def. Marion Ravelojaona, California, 6-2, 6-4.

Individual results

Singles

First round: Maria Mosolova, Northwestern, def. Andrea Remynse, UCLA, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1; Noemi Scharle, Florida St., def. Jenni Heinser, San Francisco, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; Melanie Gloria, Fresno St., def. Irina Falconi, Georgia Tech, 6-0, 6-1; Reka Zsilinszka, Duke, def. Caitlin Whoriskey, Tennessee, 6-3, 6-2; Chelsey Gullickson, Georgia, def. Michaela Kissell, Miami (Fla.), 6-2, 6-4; Nadia Abdala, Arizona St., def. Beier Ko, Harvard, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4; Jana Juricova, California, def. Katrina Tsang, North Carolina, 6-4, 6-3; Mallory Voelker, Denver, def. Venise Chan, Washington, 6-4, 6-3; Ani Mijacika, Clemson, def. Marta Lesniak, SMU, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5; Laura Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Kelcy Tefft, Notre Dame, 6-1, 6-4; Megan Falcon, LSU, def. Chisako Sugiyama, Michigan, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1; Gira Schofield, South Carolina, def. Katrina Zheltova, Sacramento St., 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4; Hilary Barte, Stanford, def. Lenka Broosova, Baylor, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Alex Haney, Auburn, def. Maria Sanchez, Southern California, 6-3, 6-4; Marrit Boonstra, Florida, def. Bojana Bobusic, California, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5); Christy Striplin, Georgia Tech, def. Samantha Murray, Northwestern, 6-4, 6-4; Bianca Eichkorn, Miami (Fla.), def. Taylor Ormond, Baylor, 6-1, 6-1; Yasmin Schnack, UCLA, def. Yvette Hyndman, Georgia, 6-3, 6-3; Amanda McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Jackie Wu, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 6-2; Mallory Cecil, Duke, def. Sarah Fansler, Southern California, 6-4, 6-1; Kristy Frilling, Notre Dame, def. Katie Rybakova, Florida St., 6-1, 6-2; Josipa Bek, Clemson, def. Anastasia Petukhova, Fresno St., 3-6, 6-4, 6-0; Marina Cossou, California, def. Anastasia Revzina, Florida, 6-2, 6-3; Aurelija Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Jenifer Widjaja, Pacific, 6-1, 6-2; Mari Andersson, California, def. Nadja Gilchrist, Georgia, 6-2, 6-4; Laura Gioia, Furman, def. Nina Munch-Soegaard, TCU, 6-4, 6-1; Sanaz Marand, North Carolina, def. Georgia Rose, Northwestern, 6-2, 6-4; Natasha Marks, Arizona, def. Fani Chifchieva, Auburn, 6-4, 6-4; Amanda Fink, Southern California, def. Noelle Hickey, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 6-3; Ellah Nze, Duke, def. Kelcy McKenna, Arizona St., 6-3, 7-6(2); Kristi Boxx, Mississippi, def. Jelena Stanivuk, Baylor, 6-3, 6-3; Julia Cohen, Miami (Fla.), def. Ana Zubori, South Carolina, 7-6(4), 6-3.

Second round: Mosolova, Northwestern, def. Scharle, Florida St., 3-6, 6-4, 7-5; Zsilinszka, Duke, Def. Gloria, Fresno St., 6-3, 6-1; Gullickson, Georgia, def. Abdala, Arizona St., 6-3, 6-1; Juricova, California, def. Voelker, Denver, 6-3, 6-1; Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Mijacika, Clemson, 7-6(0), 7-6(3); Falcon, LSU, def. Schofield, South Carolina, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Barte, Stanford, def. Haney, Auburn, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; Boonstra, Florida, def. Striplin, Georgia Tech, 6-1, 6-4; Eichkorn, Miami (Fla.), def. Schnack, UCLA, 6-1, 6-3; Cecil, Duke, def. McDowell, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 6-4; Bek, Clemson, def. Frilling, Notre Dame, 6-3, 6-4; Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Cossou, California, 7-5, 7-5; Gioia, Furman, def. Andersson, California, 6-4, 6-1; Marand, North Carolina, def. Marks, Arizona, 6-3, 7-5; Nze, Duke, def. Fink, Southern California, 6-2, 6-3; Cohen, Miami (Fla.), def. Boxx, Mississippi, 6-2, 6-3.

Round of 16:  Mosolova, Northwestern, def. Zsilinszka, Duke, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Gullickson, Georgia, def. Juricova, California, 6-3, 7-6(5); Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Falcon, LSU, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0; Boonstra, Florida, def. Barte, Stanford, 7-5, 6-1; Cecil, Duke, def. Eichkorn, Miami (Fla.), 6-2, 7-5; Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Bek, Clemson, 6-3, 6-4; Marand, North Carolina, def. Gioia, Furman, 6-1, 6-1; Cohen, Miami (Fla.), def. Nze, Duke, 6-4, 6-4.

Quarterfinals: Gullickson, Georgia, def. Mosolova, Northwestern, 6-1, 6-4; Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Boonstra, Florida, 6-1, 6-7(9), 6-3; Cecil, Duke, def. Miseviciute, Arkansas, 6-3, 6-3; Cohen, Miami (Fla.), def. Marand, North Carolina, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

Semifinals: Vallverdo, Miami (Fla.), def. Gullickson, Georgia, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4; Cecil, Duke, def. Cohen, Miami (Fla.), 6-1, 6-0.

Championship: Cecil, Duke, def. Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), 7-5, 6-4.

Doubles

First round: Renata Kucerkova-Anastasia Petukhova, Fresno St., def. Natasa Vuckovic-Ana Zubori, South Carolina, 6-2, 6-4; Nadine Fahoum-Charleen Haarhoff, Old Dominion, def. Amanda Granson-Melissa Mang, Duke, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1; Mari Andersson-Jana Juricova, California, def. Whitney Chappell-Alex Haney, Auburn, 7-6(5), 6-3; Michaela Kissell-Laura Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Maria Mosolova-Keri Robison, Northwestern, 7-5, 7-5; Marrit Boonstra-Joanna Mather, Florida, def. Sophie Grabinski-Sanaz Marand, North Carolina, 6-2, 6-2; Micaela Hein-Kelcy McKenna, Arizona St., def. Noelle Hickey-Christy Striplin, Georgia Tech, 6-0, 6-3; Csilla Borsanyi-Lenka Broosova, Baylor, def. Ani Mijacika-Keri Wong, Clemson, 6-1, 7-6(1); Kristi Boxx-Karen Nijssen, Mississippi, def. Hilary Bartlett-Taylor Marable, Princeton, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2; Marta Lesniak-Aleksandra Malyarschikova, SMU, def. Megan Falcon-Mykala Hedberg, LSU, 6-3, 6-0; Hilary Barte-Lindsay Burdette, Stanford, def. Austin Smith-Katrina Tsang, North Carolina, 6-2, 6-1; Lauren Lui-Georgia Rose, Northwestern, def. Melanie Gloria-Tinesta Rowe, Fresno St., 7-6(6), 6-4; Carolina Escamilla-Caroline Lilley, Kentucky, def. Andrea Remynse-Yasmin Schnack, UCLA, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4; Macall Harkins-Anna Sydorska, TCU, def. Jessica Alexander-Anastasia Revzina, Florida, 7-5, 7-6(4); Josipa Bek-Ina Hadziselimovic, Clemson, def. Nadja Gilchrist-Chelsey Gullickson, Georgia, 7-6(5), 6-3; Natalie Pluskota-Caitlin Whoriskey, Tennessee, def. Carolyn McVeigh-Jessica Nguyen, Stanford, 6-4, 6-3; Kristy Frilling-Kelcy Tefft, Notre Dame, def. Irina Falconi-Amanda McDowell, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 6-4.

Round of 16:  Kucerkova-Petukhova, Fresno St., def. Fahoum-Haarhoff, Old Dominion, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Andersson-Juricova, California, def. Kissell-Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), 7-5, 6-4; Hein-McKenna, Arizona St., def. Boonstra-Mather, Florida, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Borsanyi-Broosova, Baylor, def. Boxx-Nijssen, Mississippi, 7-6(6), 6-2; Barte-Burdette, Stanford, def. Lesniak-Malyarschikova, SMU, 6-2, 6-0; Lui-Rose, Northwestern, def. Escamilla-Lilley, Kentucky, 6-3, 6-1; Bek-Hadziselimovic, Clemson, def. Harkins-Sydorska, TCU, 7-6(5), 6-4; Pluskota-Whoriskey, Tennessee, def. Frilling-Tefft, Notre Dame, 7-6(4), 6-3.

Quarterfinals: Andersson-Juricova, California, def. Kucerkova-Petukhova, Fresno St., 7-6(1), 6-3; Borsanyi-Broosova, Baylor, def. Hein-McKenna, Arizona St., 6-3, 6-0; Barte-Burdette, Stanford, def. Lui-Rose, Northwestern, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; Pluskota-Whoriskey, Tennessee, def. Bek-Hadziselimovic, Clemson, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Semifinals: Andersson-Juricova, California, def. Borsanyi-Broosova, Baylor, 6-4, 6-3; Barte-Burdette, Stanford, def. Pluskota-Whoriskey, Tennessee, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4).

Championship: Andersson-Juricova, California, def. Barte-Burdette, Stanford, 6-3, 6-4.